Tue, May 14, 2013 - Page 10

Reigning Mrs. Russia, Inna Zhirkova said on April 24 that she was handing back her crown after millions watched an online video mocking her failure to answer basic questions such as whether the Earth revolves around the Sun.

The 23-year-old former model and mother of two in October last year won the Mrs. Russia title, a contest for which only married women are eligible.

Russian state Channel One announced on Twitter that Zhirkova would renounce her title on the evening of April 24 on its popular talk show “Let Them Talk.”

A video posted on YouTube earlier this month showed a state television journalist grilling Zhirkova on her general knowledge and life experience. Asked whether the Earth revolves around the Sun or vice-versa, she became flustered.

“Probably it is the Sun. No, the Earth. I don’t know,” she said, giggling.

Asked whether she won the title thanks to her “erudition,” Zhirkova, apparently not knowing the meaning of the word, agreed, “Yes, maybe, because I tried to look beautiful every day.”